Supporting device for automobile-buffers.



G. A. LYON.- SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILEIBUFFEBS.

Patented "Deer 23, ,1919.

- 4 SHEETS-'SHEET 1.

APPUCATION FILED AN-24. 191B.

Gl A. LYON. SUIPORTING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE BUFFERS.

APPLICATION .FILED JAN. 24. |918'. 1r

vPanted` Dgo. 23,1919.

SHEETS-SHEET 3.

v ATTORNEY s.V A. LYON. Y

SUPPORTING vivace FOR Auro'moSiLE BUFFERS..

PPLICATiON VFlLEI) IAN 24 I I8 Dec.

, 'UNITED' STATES' FAFFNT oFFioF- emanen ALBERT LYoN, .oF PHILADELPHiA,PENNSYLVANIA.

SUPPORTING DEvicE Fon-AU'romoBILn-FUFFFNS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 23, 1919.

contiauatioain-partoi applications seriai No. eo,6o4, sied April; i2,191s, and seri'ai ira-135,524, fried Dece'inb'er 7, 1916. Thisapplication led Januar y 24, 1918. Serial No. 213,485. I

To all it may concern. Be it known that I, GEORGE ALBERT LYON,

a citizen of the United States, and resident 4of Philadelphia,. countyof Philadelphia,

State of Pennsylvania, have made 'a certainnew and useful InventionRelating to Sup porting' Devices .for Automobile-Buffers, of

whiclithe -following is, a specific iii connection with the accompanyingdraw l0 ings, which form part of the'same.

'. This invention relates especially to auto--` mobile buiferinountingdevices inwhich one orinore gripping clamping devices are arincoperation with each of the 15 channel bar frame members oftheniachineranged for securing thereto -the supporting bars or members' of. the4buffer. :Selfalining re .tainer hooks -orhook bolt clamping devices arepreferably used for this pur ose to lock around the projecting *inner gefor in-l stance off the upper or lower liange ofthe'v channel 'bar/fra-me 4members'and these retainer members are preferably 1 sol shapedthat on tightening the nut or clampi 0f meniber'thereof, a wedging orclampinl5 action' is effected vwhich maintains the-retainer in' proper'alinement with the frainemember as Well as preventing withdrawaltherefrom.

A bearing plate or bushing member is prefera-bly used in connection witheach ofthe hook bolts or -retainers so as to engage if e of the framemember and f desired the a also its web an be interposed .betweenthesaine and the supporting member ofthe.

85 buffer, and these bushing or bearing memeis are preferably so shapedor lconnected with the coperating retainer as 'to; always remain inproperalined or interposed position with respect to the 'bulfer andframe member with the 'degree .of movement that the bushing or bearingmembers have with res ect to the other arts.

n the accompanying drawings showing in a somewhat diagrammatic wayvarious illustrative embodiments of the invention,

Figure 1 shows in side elevation Apart of one of the side frames ofan'autornobile with a buffer bai' secured thereto. Fig. 2 is a -top viewof the same.

l Fig. 3 is a transverse section en a large scale taken substantiallyalong the line 3-3 ofFig. 1. A Fig. 4 isa perspective view showingy inse arated positionthedierent elements of this attaching device..

tion, takenr Fig. 'fshows still anotlier-forin of attach- Fig. s is an'enlarged detail .section ifa-kar:

substantially along the line S4-8' of F igi 5, Fig. 9 is asimilar viewto Fig. 8 showing another form ofattachingmember. 65

ig. 10 is a transversesectionl through'v part of thls member along theline lO-10-'.

ofFig.9.f r'

' Fig. A11 is av perspective Viewv showings.

Figy12 is a similar view sliowing a furing another form of attachingmember dui'- ing application. v

Fig. 18 isa similar view of the same after it has' been applied. Fig. 19is a similar enlarged View showin a modified attachingmember.-

ig. 20 shows still another form.

Fig. 21 shows still another form of attaching member.

Fig. 22 shows the same as applied to ali-- other part of the'frame; and

Fig. 23 is ya partial transverse section thereof vtaken 'substantiallyalong .the line In many cases niud guards, splash pans, orother elementsof the car equipment are so mounted upon the side frame of the car thatbut a single ange of the latter is available for securing the supportingbar of the buffer thereto, for instance, as shown in Fig. 3 of thedrawing, in which 5 represents -inetliod of applying these attachingmeiiiioo the web of one of the channeled side frames -of the cai`lstructure, said web having an upper ilano'e has mountedu'pon'it as shownby doaedbiines inV Figs-.rand 3, a mud upper flange 15 and aloweriiangeI 14. 'The guard 11 andasplsh pan 12, so as to renderimpracticable the use of the upper flange 15 ofthe' same.

any clamping device which embraces the frame orinvolves I outwardlybeyond .the face of the frame. and through an opening 20 .in thebearing.

plate or bushing 8- contacting with the outer face of the'frame and'having aange'or exl'tension 17 partly encircling 'the' bolt stem andprojecting beneath the lower, flange 11 15 of. the frame of the machine,'as shown in .Fig 3.. The :langevll is U,shaped in cross sections@:1s-to receive the stem 9 of the bolt (see Figs?, and Theprojectingportion ofthe stem 9 oithe clamping bolt is threaded for the receptionof a nut 10 whereby the rearwardly projecting support- Y ing bar 2 ofthebutler is secured to the bear--l ing plate 8, a split lock washer 21being, by-

preference, interposed between the bar 2 'and 25 nut 10, as shown 1nFig. 3.

Besides the bearing-ofthe endof'tlre hook member. 13' of fthe.. boltupon; the upper face4 of the flange 14 said bolt has, at tl@joneshedging" tion of thehead and stem, a curved 7a face or portion-1Gwhich bears upon` the lower inner corner of said flange 14,- as' shownin .F ig. 3, y'and as the. stem 9,=o f the- `bolt is drawn outwardlyv ontighteningthe 'L nut' 10 this curved face of the bolt will act; 35 as acam and serve to draw the end of the hook member 13 down on the upperface' of the liange in direct -proportionto the out- Wardl pull of thenut 110l upon l'the stem Consequently said nut not only serves to se- 40cure' the supportingl bar 2 ot' the buffer vfirmly in positionagainstwthe bearing plate Sand thelatter against the fraineaveb- 5 bulllA it also serves to rigidly conline the holt to the flange 1-1 of saidframe.

As'thebearing'of the end v.of the hookV 13" upon the flange 14constitutes a fulcrurn or bearing point intermediate of the -ends of thestraight shank 9, the clamping bolt balances itselend is self-retainingon the trame of .the car both when the bearing. plate and buffer aremounted upon 1t, andA .when said 4buffer and bearing plate have notbeen'secured to the bolt. In the latter case l.. even'if the bolt isonly loosely applied to'. the frame member 4the Weight at the inner endof :the "shank 9 predominates andv the outer end 'ot said-shankrises'nntilit contants with the outer corner of the frame, and `when thebearingplate-and bu'er bar have 56 been applied to the bolt, the Weightat-.the

oth'er end of the shank 9 predominates, and'- brings the fact 16 intocontact with the 'lower inner corner of the llange'l, as shown.-lin'Fig. 3.

'65 In .order to` insure the `desired lvertically v'of thebuer ou thesideff rigid mounting of the supporting bar of the buffer o n the frameofthe fear two .attaching boltsv are employed one in `advance of the.other and the"locatioi1 'of the front member 1 of the buifer inthedesired position in 70 frontof the forward -wheels of the car iseli'ectedby niovingboth of these bolts for#l wardlyor rearwardly on theflange 14, but in order to provide for the verticalt adj ustment ofthe-buffer one 'of the bolts isca'used 75 to act as a pivot'forthesupporting 4 bar--l v andthe other boltengages-a'portion 3 ofAthebar which hasformed init an inclined or otherwise verticallyextendingv slots! so. i that after the-bufferghas been adjusted' to 80the desired' positionin front ofthe vWheels; 1t can be' raised''orloweredby movi-ng the` trame, thereby, through',themedium .of the'inclined slot, 4, efecftingfvertical-adj ustment `3 5 of the bu'l'erlto.the desiredextent'.

there "'can be no.,l lateral-rocking vortwistingvv 9o of 'said plate or`of. the bar... 2,',lotheggbutler,"?"

is insured;

as appliedtontheloiverflange of lthe sid'ej frame of the car;itfisrequallyf'adaptable'tof available, as is indicatedy ina-Eig. 5""i[n.thatjA case the rearwardly? extepdin'gngsupportingthe upperliangeit said .All angefV appenftobe loq with anupwardlyfincl which theslot 4 is form diend portion' 3 in I: Y so that onelo the 1,05

bolts Sniay have. its' self-alining ,itainerA 4hook 1-3 locked aroundthe upper flange-15l of the trame member, while the rear bolt g 9 isadjusted in the inclined'slot Lksoas to i secure the'- desired position`of thebulfer and 1 10 vits rearwardly extending supporting' bar which.should be substantially .horizontal as indicated in Fig. 5,;

used in Figs'.` 5 and 6. `The-steml or shank 9 of the bolt merges bythegradual curve 76 of longradius, thus forming adesirablewedging clampingvsurface .-into `thev rela? tively short radius or substantially circularinner surface v73 of the-.hook member 13,so

that the alining end 77 ,of this hook member is substantially. parallelto #the bolt 'shank and 'adapted' to coperate' Withlthef-framef i,liange 15 adjacent its central-portion "Su'ch ga retainer hook may beconvenienti "made L, l by swaglng a bar of steel' into this orni afs byforcing .the blankendwise'into' a,- s uitablycurved die4 so @as toshapehook'aend of the retainer; and :"Smgl.-

contact betwen keep it in alinement for 'engagementbetween the 'otherpoints vof contact. of the. retainer member, the end surface 77 of this-hook beinaofV course? the shank` at formed and the thread c'u on t anysuitable" 'st ges of the :manufacturing process. The ongitudinalmovement of member, which,'ifor.ea 1 n ted by screwin up th'e'nu* shankVforces t e wedgingclamping surta e 76 into engagement with Such a..retainin ple, maybe elf 10. en the bol' the corner of e upperfflange .15l of the frame member )which simultaneously forces the hook end 77 -intoengagement with they underside of'thi'sangeand se cfnresforcible theshank of the' bolt and-"Q the adjacent upper and. outer corner be-Vvtween theupper flange and the web ofthe frame member.. In this wayfathree-point alining and wedging contact' is`securedlbe--. tween thewedgmg. retainer and the -lilat plate or llange, since the' alininendz'ofthe retainer is located between an -Apreferablyf'- about midwaybetween the vother .poin Y contact.. This secures'a f irmfa'ndyetresilient. contact between these parts khefause'of the somewhatresilient pressure at the` ints i of 'contact which also slightly"hens.-the and :insln'es the desired alinement 0f the retainer,singeiobvi-l ously the shank or projectingend of the* metal of theflange o r plate retainer cannot yield substantially'ina ver- Themaintenance of the. alinement of the retainer-1n a llfnizontal ticaldirection;

what' upset Ait and stilfen the metal. by this. "1 .cold swagingoperation. AIn this Way a stiff 4heavy resilientalining hook .end issecuredj 'the plate cannot drilled orvcompletely. encircled. Anotherplane so as to prevent the shank of the retainer swinging horizontally,may bestill further by tightening the bolt byy u s'inga bearing plateengaging the web o1- etlge f the plate Yupon which the retainerisclampfed andl by a flange or bushing secured to. this bearing .platewhich suliciently encirclesor engages the shank ofthe retamer tosubstantially with respect thereto. This flange or bushing 17 on thebearing plate 8 preferably has its lower faces or edges 74 formed so asto beheld -somewhat out of contact with the 'frame flange 15 or otherplate with which the retainer coper- 4ates so that in this way theretainer may dih rectly engage t-he plate and Secure still more A sshown Ain' 51the heal-mg plate 8 may have a substanlv rm contacttherewith.

tially triangular form so as to secure ample bearing surface on theoutside ofthe we b what upwardly curved contour may be given 'tofthedepending #part o f this bearing, plate, 4that is, the part farthestaway from the shank of the retainer-with which it coper- -ates v. It isof courseunderstood that such bolts or retainer members may be used -65promoted beyond what-is secured f -agaojraig'l y l -f other chann'elbarsor angleiron members Wherea self-alining act1on is desirable. and firmor rigldsup Vort neededin cases where ,e conveniently' notched orform'ofretainer member` lsshown in Fig. 9 as liayingY the shank, 9connected with a hook infwhlcll the curved' web 27 is adapted ",to act'asa `Wedging clamping member in to engage the upper surface of thisframe lange`. f This' hook@ portion of the retainer 80' may bestiii'ened ,in any suitable lway as.b

ormmgthe'reon'the s'tfening rib '25 which can of jcursebe readily doneby .manufacturing-'the retainer member by usual 4drop forging methods. AFig." 7 shows 'another way in which the hookA bolts r clamping retainersmay be "arrangedfontheframe member 5 of' the auton'xobild-oneof theretainers orhook bolts passedvthro-ugh'the forward holev 90 Shankp'assedthrowrh the downwardly extending ,slotAfof the bent end 23 of the bari'Itis thus' seen that by the use of hook i -bolts of this generalcharacter, One or more ofrwhich may be turned or adjusted angu- 10olarly'about its shank with respect to the cooperating attaching memberor side supporting bar of the buffer, the 'buffer may be attahed in anyone of the threeways describel;-that is, the one ormore hook bolts orretainers .on each sideof the-buffer may all engage the lower flange. ofeach frame member, as is shown in Fig. 1, or both hook bolts may-engagethe upper flange of each frame member,` as 'shown in Fig. 5, or either110 hookbolt may 4engage thenpper'ange and the other the lower` flange`of each frame membenwhen fthe bumper has been turned upside down, asshown, for example, in Fig.

7. This makes the buffer mountingpractically universal in character, sothat it. can

fit' practically any style of automobile frame and also gives ita 'widerange of vertical and; horizontal adjustment with respect thereto. l

' Another arrangement in which the wedgingretainers engage both flangesot the sideframe'member Vof the machine is shown in i"ig. 14 in whichthe ,front hook bolt or other Aretainer member may engage they upl.) 125per flange 15,4 whilel the .rear bolt engages i the lower flange'liand.has its shank 9 passing through 'an ad]usting lslot 41 formed in .thedownwardly 'bent' endA 40 'of the rcar- Y w-ardly` projectlng supportingliar 2 of the 1304 the rear bolt 'maybe-loosely adjusted and buffer. Inthis case also this adjusting slotV 41 is given a curved form so as toextend substantially circumferentially about 'the other'bolt 9 so thatafter this front .retainer or clamping hook bolt has been putin placethen the buffer bars' swung vertically until the desired angularposition has been se'- cured. .This makes the angular adjustment of thebull'erv somewhat'mo're easy and con- .veni'ent ,but then the bu'ei"does not have f 'curely' held iiiposition unless-.specialarlrangements-ure --provided to prevent slip,

sincev a mere looseningfor sliding of the rear bolt or retainer n1 itsadJustmg slot varies fthe. angular position of the bulier.

However, iwith 'other forms or angular ad' increased grip ""justing".vslots which secure-'suoli a vertical in. Figs. 5 and 7, any cliangeinthe angular A position of 'the buffer necessitates'a moveextent of 'theslots, 'as in theform shown mentl 0f0ne of the `'retainers along theframe member andthe angleof the adjust-- ing slots is preferably soarranged that fric tional slippingl .is practically"prevented under thegforces. tendingto move the buffer' vertically 'when'j collision occurs,'for in- .the angle of this adjusting slot may be sired.l

' with the yupper iiange l5' of the side frame.

Still another arrangement is shown iii Fig. 415 in which the tworetainers or wedging hook bolts 9 are shown in cooperation of themachine. These bolts are shown as `coperating with a' somewhatcrescentsliaped or curved adjusting. slot 45 in the rear supporting bar2 of the buffer having an upwardly turned end 44: in .which theoffrigidity of the buler to some'extent,

more angular end '4:2 of the slot is located so that a still greaterrange of. adjustment? can be securedin this wa f at the expense unlessoneA of tli'e retainers is in substantial -contact withone end oftheadjustmg slot soas to prevent substantial backward movement` ofv thebuffer member. If desired, liowever, tliis curved or crescent-shapedadjusting slot may be formed mtwo sections as shown in Fig.. 16 in whichthe two slots 47, 48 inthe vcurved end .eofthe rear supporting -'bar 2of fthe buierare shown as separated at their ad]acent ei cls 49 by anintermediate connecting p brtion, Awhich.

".stiil'ens the bui'ei-.bar especially under vertical strains. l I

With some forms' of automobile constructhe upper flange of the framemembers ofp in squared or alined 'relation .to the., frame tion thesplash pans extend do n` quite sharply from their point of attachi ientto the `machine as is indicated in Fig. 13 lsoaresubstantiallyfparallelto the splash pan as the bearing plate if it-isused maybe, 'ser' cured tof thesh'ank'of'the hookdf"v 4tightened s"as`"to assuin'e "thefpositioxiqin lthai-...it is desirable to wedgecir-'force the-f splash -pan l2 away 'fromthel lower flange `.let ofthe'frame member Vas by driving-atv wooden or other-wedge 28 betweenthese two parts as shown, in Fig. 'I3 before applying the wedging hookboltsor retainers. Then 7 0 when the splash pan has' been orced'away toAthe necessary extent these hook bolts mayas indicated in Fig. 11 beinserted 'son that they and then when thevhookeiid' lisprop'erly locatedabove the. lowerA ange' f 14 z of. :the frame member the-shank. 9 ofvthefietainer. f' bolt may be swung. around horizontally or parallel tothe lower framA flange intotlie 7 position shown in Fig. 12 "so that theshank -80' 'of the bolt. then projects .outward beyond 1 the connectingweb 5 of the.v framemember y' so that thebuier bar and otherpart s, suchl Another form*of'hook'b'olt' retaineriis.

shown :in Figa-i7- fmirgis, maire-minerais;

having, .if desired, a' 'threadedf bolt' 9 operate withgeither-onejof gtheA flanges 'l 15 of the frame imber when'fithe 'parts'.are

dicatedf' in.Fig. 18. The f alningfbusling which igipreferably.-interposed 'between the automobile frame meinb'erlandgtlie'- rear- A,wardly projecting supporting'bar 2joffthebuffer which lmay'be-oithezgeneral type@ shown in the Lyon Patent 1,198,246,' of Sep410'() tember l2, 1916, may comprise theiflat bush-- ing or bearingplate 8 and' abusbing eX-A uftension 17 loosely engaging'the bolt sternlwhich may enter .the oblique bolt;ho1e'20 As' seen in Fig. 17, it-iseasy Vto lloosely en# 1 05 gage these lparts'on the iangeof theautomobile frame member and they'- 'cantlius 'be' readily .adjustedtothe desired longitudinal position `thereon. When",l however, the 'nut10 is tightened the hook-.end of the retainer is forced-"into .grippingengagementzwith the `fri'imefiange 15, the edge 8,6"ofwhich is forcedinto wedging contact with the 'an gular orcani' port1on85. -ofthefinnerfhook portion of the 4 retainer.v At thesaine time the bushingplate 8 is forced againsprthe web 5- which carries the bolt stem upwardinto-squared position somewhat away'rom Athe frame-flangel andithisaction maybe; controlled by formingawedgingor'ibear ing member,such'as82, for instance,jonthef bushing-extension :for contact. withthe. webi ,or `flanges 1I tlsway one of the'points of ange. 18.@

Whic is specially adapted for uselon automobiles Where the splash pan'or other conengage the. frame flange -1-5l 20 in'which the suicentlywith the' center of the retainer hook on.

or less V section f so attachment secured.

. pan, for instance.

lnected partsare closely' adjacent the frame flange to which theretainer 1s secured. The

bolt stem 9 is upwardly deflected at about that the curved 'hook memthepoint 97v so ber 13 of the retainer is upwardly displaced and the hook87 the center of this or shank. Under these cirmay directly so thatadirectthree-point engagement` 1s secured between .the flange andretainer which also has wedg'ing engagement therewith at the point 86.

may be formed with a' end Sla-nd can thus be brought still nearer to theframe web 5 which is desirable in case the fianges are narrow. The hookportion of the retainer .thus extends to a min.- imun'iv distance beyondVthe frame flange so that it will interfere to a correspondingly lessextent with a closely arranged-splash If desired, vthe hook Anotherarrangement is shown in Figl so that it-comes nearly in line the innercurve `93 of lieved or beveled end 91 maybe formed,' if desired. 'Y Thejecting bearing; member 106 arranged in inclined wedgingposition so asto engage the frame flange bushin' upward when the cned. this case as inouterside of the hook bolt end. This device thus has several points ofbearing on the outer surfaces of the frame member'so supplement orreplace the points of bearing of the retainer onthe framememberandcorrespondingly 'promote the rigidity ofthe These bushing'or bearingdevices can thus be prevented from having any substantial angularmovement with .respect to the frame member or hook bolt during thetightening of course desirable to retainer` or other 'parts that thebearingl .plate cannot turn or move out of proper engagement with theframe member while the attaching device is being tightened. For somepurposes it is desirable to form the retainer 19' shows'another form ofretainer'- looated about in line with. small diameter inner curve' 98 ofthe hook that isV approximately in line -or alined therewith in` adirection parallell relieved or beveled hook end 8 7 is also'lowered hwhich a similarly rel.

bushingjnay, if desired, be formed with a'heavy or considerably pro-Which may be and wedge the parts are tightpreceding forms the bushing orbearing device has a more and extends around and more or lessengages theframe web and4 the frame flange opposite to.

and bearing device with coperating and slot connection so as to preventsubstantial angular movement between' them; and this arrangement may be4used with any of 'these types ,of hook bolt retainers.. shown inv Figs.21 to 23 the generallysimilar retainer'having the hook lend 87 .whichmay have a relieved or beveled portion 91 adjacent the web 5 asindicated, may have such a slotted alining connectionfwith its. Ybearing element. The bolt stem 9 may be maintained. in angularV'alinement with the bushing by any `for example,' as the alining lug103 which may be pinched up or. otherwise ormedon the bolt stem andwhich may engage a slot or recess 102 extendino- 1n, which maybesomewhat obliquely or angularly arranged if desired. This arrangementprevents the bushingturning or getting o ut of angular alinement withthe re-A Toose of the parts under4 into wedging engage-V .xnenttherewith at 4-aboutthe' point 86 while t e'hook end-engages thereon bylreas'mgjof Y of the retainer. ."The, interposed bushing orzbearing-plate- S-whiclf may be used,I if de sired,\ constitutes.theotherbearing. point' squared or, alined relationbetween the retainer andframe flange, although, of course;

itis not necessary in all cases to usel such an interposed-bushingdevice. This form ofretainelfcan also be used onthe forward por-v tionof'thevautomobile frame member where it is reinforced by the bolted onframe end 105 as shown in Figs. 7 and 22. In that event the hooked end87 engages this frameen d or reinforcing member 105 while the reamewein-foi" instance, at about thepoint 86, the bolt stem or.v shank 9being in thisu y case located'conside'rably closerlto. the 11pper orouter :surface 92 of the frame fiange 15. I .desired the bushingmay beformed with awedging `or inclined bearing portion 107 to engagey theoutside face '92 of the 'frame fiange and if desired the squared surfface104 lnay be formed adjacent the bearing plate 8 as is shown in Fig.22 so that this bearing element ormember comes into direct gagement-with the two outer sides of the k ame member. This naturally promotesthe igidity of alinement tion effected, and for these purposes it is'sometimes desirable to have this .bearing Dortion 1 04 somewhat removedfrom the .shankportions to -form a modified pin lsuitable alining means,such,

.ntO the bushing lconsiderably beyond tthcbolt hole 20 there-.

and also further mini- As indicated in Fig. 21 y used in connection withand mayv engage either flange of theframe member and comesvthespringy'character;4

io'oA l with -this varrangement .and promotes tlief i c tainer haswedofinv'en afremen't with the that they 'can'. fr b t' g b l and secureconnec- 95 the inside of the `frame g fiange and exerts a` resilientholding .action of the U1bolt as Qshown in Fig. 3 to, givegreaterali'ning action. However, when this uiiiveisaltypeof retainerdirectly engages the frame flange :isshown in Fig. 21, the langeengagesthe curved inner face of the the hookend 87 is substantially in lineivith the center of this hook curve, that is, in a ldirectionextendingparallel to the retainer stein or shank, This A contactpreferably "takes placeat suoli point, however, as to' have etlicientWedging action in connection hook nearen the Atenter of .tliis.eurve,since' therewith; and i'or'thesereasons` the retaii'ier extendsconsiderably less. beyond the llange sogas to interfere to acorrespondingly less extentwith an adjacent splash pan under theseconditions. It is, ofr course, niiderstod'that the rearwardly extendingsupporting bars or members, such as 2, of the 'Lyon spring typeor otherbiiiers tend to maintain their substantial parallelism withi each otherand to resist twisting so that the' retainer. devices are. usuallyassisted'm this'V Way in maintaining their alined position on 25 theframe members andv are prevented from swinging dovvn around .thevframeflanges or.

in part'of my eopending applications,"Se-. rial No. 90,604, filed April12, 1916, and Serial No'. 135,524, ledDecember 7, 1916, that is, thisapplication comprises subject-mattei' takentherefrom.

This invention has been .described in con# neetionwith a number ofillustrative embodiments, forms, shapes, proportions, sizes', materialsand arrangements, to the details of which disclosure the invention isnot of course to be limited, since what is claimed as neu'7 and what isdesired to be securedby Letters 'latent is set forth in the appendedclaims. v -I'claiml. In automobile buffers, an automobile ing extendingsupporting members,I retainsubstantially. in line with the center ofthe- -ers having threaded stems, .each of said retainers having Aahooked end to curve around one of the flanges of said frame members andhaving an end to engagethe innerside of said frame flange, said hook endbeing adjacent the end o the automobile frame niember anialining lugorinedon the stem of said retainer, a bushing having a bear- 'ingplate'to -coperate'with the web of said there being an alining slot vinsaid bushing with which said lug coperates, said bushframe member` andhaving an oblique boltl -hole through which said retainer extends,

ing having .inclined wedging 'bearing'por-- ing with the threaded end ofsaid retainer to clamp said supporting member and'bu'shing to thecoperating frame member, and force the edgeof the flange of said frame 11 member in to Wedgingiengagement with said retainer substantiallyadjacent the center' of its hooked end to minimize projection of saidretainer beyond said flange.

2. In automobile buffers, an' automobile having flanged frame members, abuffer hav-" ing extending supporting members,- retainers havingthreaded stems, each of said.

'retainers having a hooked end t o extend around' one of the flangesjofsaid frame members andengage the inner side of-Said .85 frame flange,said hook end being substan-A tially vin line with the center oftheinner curve of the hooked. end.'of'saidili'etainer, i 'an alining lugformedon the stem off-'said "j 4-1 retainena bushing having a bearingplate which said retainer extends,.there heiligen-` alining slot insaidbushing'witli" Wliich said lug eoperates, said bushing having. squared-=bearing portions adjaeent'said bearingplate L to engage the outside oftheframerlange; fj l clamp said supporting member andbushing. to thecoperating frame member.-

3. In automobile bulers, an automobilehaving flanged frame members, abuil'erhaving extending supporting members, retainers havingthreadedstems, each of said retainers having a hooked .end to extend.around one' of the flanges of said frame members and' engage the innerside of said vframe flange,

A a bushing having a bearing plateto: cohaving flanged frame members, abuffer havoperate with the web ofsaid frame {mem- -ber and having' abolth'olethrough' which said retainer extends, there .being alining means onsaid retainer and bushing' t'o -pre vent substantial relative angularmovement thereof, and a nut coperating .with the threaded end of'saidretainer'to 'clam said supporting member and bushingto t e cooperatingframe member.

4. In automobile bifers, an automobile I having flanged frame' members,a buffer' having extending supporting members formed with apertures,retainers having threaded stems coperating 'with said a ertures, eachoffsaid retainers having a hoo ed rend to extend around one of theflanges of iio said frame members and having an endt'o engage the innerside ofsaid frame lange,'= `a ushing having a 'bearing `plate tooooperate tv'ith the web of said frame member and having an oblique bolthole through izo which said retainer extends,-said bushing' havingineliiiedn'edging bearing portions on' each side of said retainerandsquared bearing `portions adJacent said bearing late to engage theoutside of the frame' ange adjacent the web and a nut co erating withthe threaded end' of said retainer to clamp said supporting member andbushing to the coi'iporatlng frame member,. and force-.theedgeof theHarige of said fraaie' member into ivedging engagement with saidretainerhaving flanged frame members, a buffer hav' substantially adjaoent thecenter ofA its hooked end to minimize' proJeetion of said retainerbeyond said flange.v

' 5." In automobile. buffers, anautomobile having fianged frame members,a buffer havingY extending supporting members, re-

tainers haring threaded stems, each of said retainers having a hookedend to extend.

around one of the flanges of said frame ineinbers and engage the innerside of sadfram'e ange, a :bushing having a bearing plate' to cooperatewith the web of said frame mem ber and having an obliquebolt holethrough which .said retainer extends, saidbushingA having squared?bearing portions adlaeentv said bearing plate to engage the outside ofthe frame lian-ge adjacent the web, and aj nnt cooperating vwith' thethreaded end -of said retainer to clamp said bushing to thecoperatingframe member. 6. In automobile buffers, an automobile ingextending supporting-members, retainers having threaded stems, ea`ch ofsaid.'-

retainers having-a hooked Aend to extend. around one of the flanges of4said'frain'e niembeis and engage the' inner side, of said frame flange,a bearing plate to coperate with the web of said 'frame member and.having an oblique bolt hole through which said retainer extends, and anut coperatiig with the threaded end of saidretainer to clamp saidbearing plate tothe coperating frame member.

7, AIn automobile buffers, abu'er having front impact members and'rearwardly exe tending supporting members and-a plurality 'of hookretainer members having 'Shanks v50` cooperating with said supportingmembersv and reveisibly arranged with respect tliere-V to. so that saidretainer members are adapt- .ed to engage the fla ged framemenibers,

of an automobile, the end hook portions of said retainers beingsuieiently out of line with the shanks thereof to bridge over aframeange and connected franie'end when the retainer. is applied adjacent theend'of the automobile frame' member.

8. In automobile buers, a buffer having rearwardly' extending supportingmembers and a plurality of hook retainer members i having Shankscoperating with said supporting members so that said retainer mem-,-bers ane adapted to engage the anged frame exten exten members of. an.automobile, the end hook portion's'of said retainers being .jsuicieiitlyout of 'line' with the Shanks' thereof to bridge vover a frameiiange andconnected-frame 'j' Iend'when the retaineriis appliedadJaeent 70 the endof theautomobile'frame' member.

9. In automobile buffers, an automobile .having flanged frame members,.abuffer liaving supporting. members, retaining membershaving `threadedshanks, .each or said re- .'15

'tainin -members haviiiga hookedip'ortion around -oneof 'the flanges ofgsaidyJ frame lmembers'and having-'a hook end to en vage theinner sideof said frame'- flange,

sai liok 'end `beingrlisfubstantially in' line '80 with the center ofthe' inner ci'rveof the' j hooked portion of 'saidretaiiiena bearingplate to eoperate' with 'the' web of said' rame meinberl'and'- having a.bolt hole through whili said'r'etainer shank extends ,'85 and a nutcoperatin -withfthethreaded end ofsaid retainer. shann to `clamp saidbearing-- plate to the cooperating frame member and force the redge ofthe tfl'ange'of saidffr'arne member'Y intoifwedg'ing 'engagementwith I9osaid retainersubstantiallyfadj acent 'the-cem. .v y ter of itseurvedhooked portion, to minimize projectionx of: saidff retainer beyondY ing supporting members; retaining 'members having threaded Shanks,"eachot said' re,-

tainin members 'having ahookedportionto around -oneof-the anges of saidframe )members and having-a1 hook 4end ,to

engage the. innergside of said frame lange a bearm' plate to' coperatewith the web of said rame-member and having. a bolthole through whichsaid retainei'shank ex- 105 j tends, and a nut 'coperating' with thethreaded end yof said retainer 'shank to'.- lamp said bearing platetothe coperating frame member and. force the edge of the y'flangeof saidframe member into engage-V 11o ment with saidretain'er adjacent thecenter 'of its curved hook'portion to minimize projeetion of saidretainer bfeyond'said' Harige. 111. In attaching-devices adapted for use1n`attacliing auto obile bi1-fers to the 'frame- 115 4frame flange',said hook end being relieved and located substantially in' line -withthe center-ofthe inner curve of the hooked 'p'or` tion of said retainer,an alininglug formed i 25 on the-stem of said retainer, a bushing hav--ing a 'bearing plate adapted to vcopeiate Withthe web of said framemember and having an 4oblique bolt hole through 'whieh saidi'etamereXtends, there being an al'ining `slot- 130 a f l' i 1,325,731.

' in Said bushing with when aia lug Coperates', and a nutcoperating'with threaded end of; said retainer `and adapted'- to clampsaid vblishingto the cperatingfirame mein- 'ber and, force the edgeI of`the flange of s fd frame member. into We g engageme t with said retainersubstantially adjacent the j A, center ofits'curved' hooked portion tominis mizeprojection of said-.retainer beyond'said .1

Y 12..Inattaching devicesI adapted for use in attaching automobile buersto the frame o 'fan automobile having flanged frame fmeinbeis, .aone-piece hook bolt retainer having a, hooked portion adapted to -eurvearound one or'fthe iianges' of said {frame members and hav' -a hook endadapted to engage the inner side of said frameiange,

said hook end being relieved and, located substantially in line With thecenter of the inner curve of the hooked portion of said retainer,abushing having a bearing'plate adapted to coperate with the v veb ofSaid" frame member and having a bolt hole its curved hooked'portiontominimizezprothrough' 4vvhichsaid retainer extends, and a nuteoperatin with a threaded end of saidretainer and a apted to clamp saidbushingto the 'coperatin -frame member and forceber into wed'gingengagement with 4said 1retainer substantially ad]acentfthe center ofjection -of said vretainer beyond said flange.

1 13. Inattaching devices adapted for use inl attaching automobilebuiersto the frame of anl automobile having anged frame niembers','-a"onepieeehook bolt retainer havi'no a hooked portion adapted to eurvearoun` oneof the Iianges of said frame members and having ai hook endl adapted toengage the inner side of said frame fiange, said hook end being locatedsubstantially in line With the center ojzthe inner curve of the hookedportion of. said retainer, a bearing plate adapted tocoperate withtheweb of said frame member andLA having a bolt' hole through whichsaid-retainer extends and a nut egperatin with a threaded end of saidretainer-.land a aptedto. clamp saidbnshing to the coperating' framemembervand force the edge of the ange of Said frame member into Wedgingengagement with said retainer' to minimize projection of said retainerbeyond said flange;

14. In attaching devices adapted for usev in .attaching automobilebuiers to the frame.

member and havingjan oblique bolt hole through which said retainerextends,- there vbein4 an alining slot in said bushing with whic saidlug c'operate'sl and a nut co'- operating'-wit'l1a threaded end of saidretainer andy adapted to clamp saldvbushmg to the coperating framemember and force the edge of the flange of said frame member intovvedging engagementwith said reh "tainer, Y A

15.- Infattachingdevices adapted for use in attachingauto'mobilebufi'ers to the frame members, a one-piece hook bolt retainerhaving a hooked portion adapted to extend around one of thefianges ofsaid frame members' and having 'a hook-end adapted to engage an innerside of said frame member, Jan alining'lug formed on the stem of saidretainer, a bushing having a bearing porf 'tion adaptedtol'coperate'With,v the web of of an automobile having flanged rame-said"fra1ne member and having' a hole through which 'said retainerextends, there 'being alining means on said stem and bushing to preventundesirable angular move,-v .mentbetween them, and a'nut coperatinglwith a 'threaded end of said retainer and adapted to clamp said bushingto the yeo operating frame member and force the edge V/fof saidframemember into wedging engagement with'said retainer.. L

16. Inattaching devices adapted for use vin attaching automobile buffersto the frame ofan "automobile having iianged frame n iembers,I a onepiece hook retaining-member having a threadedsten and having ahookedAend to extend around one of the anges of said frame members and havingan end to engage the inner side of said frame fia-nge, a bushing havinga bearing plate to coperate with the web of said frame inemlos A ber,said bushing having inclined Wedging bearing portions'adjacent saidretainer and squared bearing portions Aadj acent said bear-f. ing plateto engage the outside of the frame" flange adjacentthe web and a nutco'perat ing with the threaded stem of said retainer to clamp saidsupporting member and bushing to the coperating frame member, andv forcethe edge of the fiange of said frame' member into wedging engagementWithsaid retainer.

17. In attaching devices adapted for use '5 in attaching automobilebuffers to the frame of an automobile having flanged menlbers, a onepiece hook retaining mein# ber having av threaded stern and having aboekettend to extend around one of the flanges of said frame member andhaving an end to engage the-inner side of. said frame flange, a bushingln ving a bearing plate to coperate with the web of said frame mem-vber, said bushing having inclined Wedging bearing portions' adjacentvsaid retainer and a nut coperatmg with the threaded stem of saidretainer to clamp said supportingmember und bushing to the cooperatingframe member, and force the edge of the flange of said frame memberiiitol engzgement with' said retainer.

18. In 'attaching devices adapted for use in attaching automobile'buffers to the frame of mi automobile having flziiiged frame mein-`hers. :i one piece hook retaining member having ai threaded stein andhaving a hooked und to extend around one of the Ha-iiges of said tramemeinbersmid having am end to engage the inner side of said' frameflange,l

:L bushing having':thezii'ing plate to' co operte with the 'web' of.Sa-id frame mem-A ber and having :in oblique bolt hole throughwhichsaid retainer extends, and a nut cooperating with the threaded stein of'said re' tainer to clamp said supporting-member and bushing to theeoperating` frame member,

frame 'ii'iembeifinto engagement with 'said retainer.` .i

"GEoReEALB-ERT LYON. Witnesses-,z

" HARRY L. DUNCAN,

-J'iissm B. KAY.

`2o und forcer the edge of, the flange of` seid

